Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Chapter I Sets the scene; Frederick tells us some of his early life and begins to explain life on the plantation. QUESTIONS
Why is Frederick not sure when he was born?
What is Frederick's last name at birth?
Why does Frederick make the point that a slaveholder who has fathered a child is likely to be tougher on that child?
Why does Frederick only rarely see his mother?
Chapter II Describes the plantation system of Colonel Lloyd; discusses the daily existence of slaves on the plantation. QUESTIONS
What is the relationship of Colonel Lloyd to Frederick's master?
Why is it difficult to find copies of slave songs?
Why does Frederick suggest that slaves sing out of sorrow rather than out of joy?
ACTIVITY Go to the library and find some songs sung by slaves. Write down the meaning of these songs and examine if they were likely to be sung because of sorrow as suggested by Frederick. (English) Chapter III Relates several anecdotes that tell readers more about plantation life and the thinking of slaves. QUESTIONS
What is ironic about Colonel Lloyd's treatment of his horses compared to the treatment of his slaves? (English) *
Chapter IV Tells readers more about overseers and relates incidents of slave murders. QUESTIONS
What reason does Mr. Gore give for killing Demby the slave?
What other examples does Frederick give of his statement "that killing a slave, or any colored person, . . . is not treated as a crime, either by the courts or the community" (p. 41)? (History)*
Chapter V Examines Frederick's life as a slave child and discusses his leaving the plantation. QUESTIONS
Why was Frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?
What were Frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld?
Chapter VI QUESTIONS
To what does Frederick attribute the kindness of Mrs. Auld?
What, according to Frederick, changes her?
Why is Mr. Auld angry when he finds that Mrs. Auld is teaching Frederick his letters?
Why does Frederick call Mr. Auld's forbidding his learning how to read "invaluable instruction" (p. 49)? (Education) *
Why does inability to read keep men enslaved according to Frederick and to Mr. Auld? (Education)
What does Frederick hope to gain by learning how to read?
Who teaches Frederick why black men are not taught to read?
Why is this lesson so important to him?
Activity: In education we refer to the school's "hidden curriculum," that which is not intentionally taught but is learned by the students. What are some of the "hidden curricula" in the schools you attended? How does Mr. Auld's lesson to Frederick relate to the concept of the 'hidden curriculum?' (Education) *
Chapter VII Relates what Mrs. Auld learned from keeping slaves; how Frederick came to hate slavery and how he learned to write. QUESTIONS
How did Mrs. Auld change and why did she change?
What plan did Frederick adopt to learn how to read now that Mrs. Auld was no longer teaching him?
What irony does Frederick find in this statement: "It is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this Christian country." (p. 54)? *
What do the two Irishmen encourage him to do? Why does he not trust them?
How does Frederick learn to write?
How does he trick the white boys into teaching him new letters?
ACTIVITIES
Discuss how you learned how to read and write. How did it differ from the methods used by Frederick? (English/Education)
Chapter VIII Discussion of slaves as property; plight of old slaves; return to Baltimore. QUESTIONS
Why was Frederick forced to return to the plantation after the death of his master?
How was the value of the master's property determined? How were the slaves valued?
What happened to Frederick's grandmother after the deaths of Lucretia and Andrew? How does this anecdote help explain the value of slaves? How are slaves valued?
Chapter IX Moves to St. Michael's, Maryland, with Master Thomas Auld; the irony of the Christian slaveholder is discussed. QUESTIONS
Why does Frederick now know the date?
Who is Frederick's newest Master?
What rule of slaveholding does Master Thomas Auld violate?
How did the slaves get food?
Why does Frederick say that "adopted slaveholders are the worst"?
How does Master Thomas propose to 'break' Frederick?
Why is the use of the verb 'to break' ironic? *
Why was Mr. Covey's reputation for breaking slaves of great value to him?
Chapter X How a man is made a slave; a slave made a man. QUESTIONS
Why does Mr. Covey whip Frederick?
Why are the slaves so fearful of Mr. Covey? Why does their work go on in his absence?
Why is it "never safe to stop a single minute" (p. 73)?
What does Frederick mean by "Mr. Covey's forte consisted in his power to deceive" (p. 74)?
Why does Mr. Covey buy a slave to use as a breeder?
Why does he hire Mr. Samuel Harrison, a married man? What irony does Frederick find in this?
How does Mr. Covey succeed in breaking Frederick?
Why does he return to Covey? Who convinces him to do so? What does Sandy Jenkins suggest that Frederick do?
How does Frederick win the fight with Mr. Covey?
Why does Frederick contend that Mr. Covey does not turn him in?
What would have happened to Frederick had Mr. Covey turned him in? *
Why is Frederick's battle with Mr. Covey "the turning-point in my career as a slave" (p. 82)?
Frederick again decides to fight when he is attacked. What happens to him? What does Master Hugh attempt to do for Frederick?
What must Frederick do with the wages he earns each week as a caulker? Why?
ACTIVITIES Read aloud and discuss Frederick's discussion of sailing vessels beginning with the last line on page 75 and continuing through the end of the first paragraph on page 77. Why does Frederick find the sailing vessels so abhorrent to watch? What do they symbolize for him? At the same time he finds hope in them. What is his hope? What are the sailing vessels a metaphor of? (English) *
CHAPTER 11 AND APPENDIX Chapter XI Escape from slavery; becoming a free man; involvement in the anti-slavery movement. QUESTIONS
For what two reasons does Frederick tell us that he cannot relate the means of his escape?
Why does he not approve of the underground railroad?
How is it possible for Frederick and Anna to marry? Why is their marriage such an important event?
Why did Frederick change his name so many times? Who chooses Douglass? Why?
What had Douglass believed about life in the North? Was he correct? What does he find about life in the North?
ACTIVITIES
Research information about the underground railway. What did it do? Where and for how long? What was Harriet Tubman’s role in it? Is Douglass fair in his criticism of it? (History)
Appendix * Defense of his speaking out against the Christianity of slave holders. QUESTIONS
Why do you think Douglass added the appendix?
What does he mean by "slaveholding religion"?
Why does Douglass contend that the church turns the other cheek on the treatment of slaves?
How does he compare the slaveholding Christians to the Pharisees and ancient scribes?
Slavery To Civil Rights **Jeopardy**
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Written by Himself
**Frederick Douglass**
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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Chapter I
Sets the scene; Frederick tells us some of his early life and begins to explain life on the plantation.
QUESTIONS
- Why is Frederick not sure when he was born?
- What is Frederick's last name at birth?
- Why does Frederick make the point that a slaveholder who has fathered a child is likely to be tougher on that child?
- Why does Frederick only rarely see his mother?
Chapter IIDescribes the plantation system of Colonel Lloyd; discusses the daily existence of slaves on the plantation.
QUESTIONS
- What is the relationship of Colonel Lloyd to Frederick's master?
- Why is it difficult to find copies of slave songs?
- Why does Frederick suggest that slaves sing out of sorrow rather than out of joy?
ACTIVITYGo to the library and find some songs sung by slaves. Write down the meaning of these songs and examine if they were likely to be sung because of sorrow as suggested by Frederick. (English)
Chapter III
Relates several anecdotes that tell readers more about plantation life and the thinking of slaves.
QUESTIONS
Chapter IV
Tells readers more about overseers and relates incidents of slave murders.
QUESTIONS
- What reason does Mr. Gore give for killing Demby the slave?
- What other examples does Frederick give of his statement "that killing a slave, or any colored person, . . . is not treated as a crime, either by the courts or the community" (p. 41)? (History)*
Chapter VExamines Frederick's life as a slave child and discusses his leaving the plantation.
QUESTIONS
- Why was Frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?
- What were Frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld?
Chapter VIQUESTIONS
- To what does Frederick attribute the kindness of Mrs. Auld?
- What, according to Frederick, changes her?
- Why is Mr. Auld angry when he finds that Mrs. Auld is teaching Frederick his letters?
- Why does Frederick call Mr. Auld's forbidding his learning how to read "invaluable instruction" (p. 49)? (Education) *
- Why does inability to read keep men enslaved according to Frederick and to Mr. Auld? (Education)
- What does Frederick hope to gain by learning how to read?
- Who teaches Frederick why black men are not taught to read?
- Why is this lesson so important to him?
Activity:In education we refer to the school's "hidden curriculum," that which is not intentionally taught but is learned by the students. What are some of the "hidden curricula" in the schools you attended? How does Mr. Auld's lesson to Frederick relate to the concept of the 'hidden curriculum?' (Education) *
Chapter VII
Relates what Mrs. Auld learned from keeping slaves; how Frederick came to hate slavery and how he learned to write.
QUESTIONS
- How did Mrs. Auld change and why did she change?
- What plan did Frederick adopt to learn how to read now that Mrs. Auld was no longer teaching him?
- What irony does Frederick find in this statement: "It is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this Christian country." (p. 54)? *
- What do the two Irishmen encourage him to do? Why does he not trust them?
- How does Frederick learn to write?
- How does he trick the white boys into teaching him new letters?
ACTIVITIESDiscuss how you learned how to read and write. How did it differ from the methods used by Frederick? (English/Education)
Chapter VIII
Discussion of slaves as property; plight of old slaves; return to Baltimore.
QUESTIONS
- Why was Frederick forced to return to the plantation after the death of his master?
- How was the value of the master's property determined? How were the slaves valued?
- What happened to Frederick's grandmother after the deaths of Lucretia and Andrew? How does this anecdote help explain the value of slaves? How are slaves valued?
Chapter IXMoves to St. Michael's, Maryland, with Master Thomas Auld; the irony of the Christian slaveholder is discussed.
QUESTIONS
- Why does Frederick now know the date?
- Who is Frederick's newest Master?
- What rule of slaveholding does Master Thomas Auld violate?
- How did the slaves get food?
- Why does Frederick say that "adopted slaveholders are the worst"?
- How does Master Thomas propose to 'break' Frederick?
- Why is the use of the verb 'to break' ironic? *
- Why was Mr. Covey's reputation for breaking slaves of great value to him?
Chapter XHow a man is made a slave; a slave made a man.
QUESTIONS
- Why does Mr. Covey whip Frederick?
- Why are the slaves so fearful of Mr. Covey? Why does their work go on in his absence?
- Why is it "never safe to stop a single minute" (p. 73)?
- What does Frederick mean by "Mr. Covey's forte consisted in his power to deceive" (p. 74)?
- Why does Mr. Covey buy a slave to use as a breeder?
- Why does he hire Mr. Samuel Harrison, a married man? What irony does Frederick find in this?
- How does Mr. Covey succeed in breaking Frederick?
- Why does he return to Covey? Who convinces him to do so? What does Sandy Jenkins suggest that Frederick do?
- How does Frederick win the fight with Mr. Covey?
- Why does Frederick contend that Mr. Covey does not turn him in?
- What would have happened to Frederick had Mr. Covey turned him in? *
- Why is Frederick's battle with Mr. Covey "the turning-point in my career as a slave" (p. 82)?
- Frederick again decides to fight when he is attacked. What happens to him? What does Master Hugh attempt to do for Frederick?
- What must Frederick do with the wages he earns each week as a caulker? Why?
ACTIVITIESRead aloud and discuss Frederick's discussion of sailing vessels beginning with the last line on page 75 and continuing through the end of the first paragraph on page 77. Why does Frederick find the sailing vessels so abhorrent to watch? What do they symbolize for him? At the same time he finds hope in them. What is his hope? What are the sailing vessels a metaphor of? (English) *
CHAPTER 11 AND APPENDIX
Chapter XI
Escape from slavery; becoming a free man; involvement in the anti-slavery movement.
QUESTIONS
- For what two reasons does Frederick tell us that he cannot relate the means of his escape?
- Why does he not approve of the underground railroad?
- How is it possible for Frederick and Anna to marry? Why is their marriage such an important event?
- Why did Frederick change his name so many times? Who chooses Douglass? Why?
- What had Douglass believed about life in the North? Was he correct? What does he find about life in the North?
ACTIVITIESResearch information about the underground railway. What did it do? Where and for how long? What was Harriet Tubman’s role in it? Is Douglass fair in his criticism of it? (History)
Appendix *
Defense of his speaking out against the Christianity of slave holders.
QUESTIONS
- Why does Douglass contend that the church turns the other cheek on the treatment of slaves?
- How does he compare the slaveholding Christians to the Pharisees and ancient scribes?
- How does he criticize the church of the north?
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